94 points
""The 2009 Geyserville is a gorgeous wine. It shows expressive inner perfume, sweet black cherries, menthol and minerals. This is an understated, exceptionally elegant red endowed with considerable finesse and fabulous overall balance. A round, sensual finish makes it impossible to resist a second taste. In 2009 the blend is 74% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mourvedre. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029." (08/11) It's a ruby-hued beauty, with deep cherry fruit, spice and black tea aromas. On the palate the wine is briary, with mineral, mint and well-integrated tannins. Ridge at its best. According to Wine Enthusiast: "A blend of many varieties, based on Zinfandel and Carignane, this is a smooth, spicy wine, brimming with ripe red fruit and smoked meat flavors, with a soy, bacony umami richness. The official alcohol is 14.3%, but it tastes hotter than that. Ideal for barbecue and roasted meats." (09/11)
By:Bryan Brick | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: September 13, 2011
If you haven’t tried the Lytton Springs and Geyserville bottlings by Ridge Vineyards by now you probably have been living under a rock, or on some deserted island somewhere. For decades, the first Geyserville was made in 1966 and first Lytton in 1972, these have been the best zinfandel based wines in the United States. For either instant consumption or long term cellaring few have ever shown as much promise and continuously paid such great dividends. Geyserville has consistently been my favorite bottling from Ridge over time. There is something that just hits my palate right about this wine; I think it is the perfect combination of fruit, spice, oak and texture for a Zinfandel based wine. A touch brighter and higher toned than the Lytton Springs bottling this has powerful aromas of black raspberry, nutmeg, cedar and toasted marshmallow. More purely fruited this year than in the recent past this has bursting flavors of blueberry, ash, black tea and a touch of dill from the American Oak used in the aging of the wine. Clean, ripe, focused and complete with a wonderful sappiness this is delicious now and will only get better over the next decade.
"
Best 2012-2029